AGF stops Obono-Obla panel

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed discomfort about the activities of the Special Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SIPRPP).

The panel is headed by the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Mr.Okoi Obono- Obla.

The panel set up under the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act, was constituted in August by the government.

However, the Vice President is said to be unhappy with the way the panel’s Chairman was exercising his power.

Although no details of any wrongdoing was disclosed, Obono-Obla is alleged to have disregarded Civil Service’s established administrative procedures and protocols.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami disclosed this in a November 1, 2017 letter to Obono-Obla, a copy of which was sighted at the weekend.

It was learnt that Malami’s letter was informed by an earlier letter by the VP and in which he (the VP) complained about the activities of the Obono-Obla-led panel.

It was learnt that the AGF has now asked Obono-Obla to halt further activities in his capacity as the Chairman of the panel.

The AGF, according to a source within the Federal Ministry of Justice, has also asked Obono-Obla to provide an up-to-date report of the panel’s activities till date, and to seek clearance from the Minister of Justice before taking further actions.

Obono-Obla is said to have also been asked to seek clearance from the AGF before granting interviews.

The AGF in his letter in which he acknowledged receipt of the letter from Osinbajo, expressed his concerns on the activities of the Panel which runs contrary to the enabling Act establishing it.

He also noted that “the activities of the Panel run foul or contrary to established administrative procedures and protocols in the Federal Civil Service structure.

“In view of the foregoing, coupled with the directives contained in the letter under reference, you are hereby directed to refrain from any further action or taking any step in your capacity as the Chairman of the Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property with immediate effect until directed otherwise by His Excellency, the Vice President.

“While you are to await further instructions in respect of the panel’s mandate, you are hereby directed to promptly provide a detailed up-to-date report on the activities of the panel to the undersigned for onward transmission to the Vice President.

“Furthermore, you are required to henceforth seek clearance from the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before granting any media interview or making press releases on official matters.”

Obono-Obla confirmed the AGF’s letter to him, but declined to comment on its content or react to issues contained in it.

He said he would not comment because it was still an issue between him and the AGF.

He said the issue referred to was contained in a letter the AGF wrote to him, and to which he was preparing his response.

Obono-Obla said it would be wrong for him to discuss such an issue in the media when he had not responded to the AGF’s letter.

“I cannot comment. Is it about the letter from the AGF to me? Who took it to the Press? We have to find out first.

“Because. it is a private communication from the AGF to me, and to which he requires me to react. And to which I am preparing my reaction.

“So, I don’t know why it should be made a matter of controversy in the media.

“I will have to first react to the minister’s letter before answering any questions from the media,” Obono-Obla said

Please, there is the need for you to accord the President some modicum of respect. Apart from being the President of this country, he is a father figure. I am aware that the Holy Books – the Bible and the Koran enjoin us thus “Honour thy father and thy mother”. The injunction does not necessarily refer to one’s biological parents but to our elders, particularly those old enough to be our fathers or mothers.

Curtx Maccido

Pathetic shameless loser!! You simply die of heart attack and unfortunately be buried as pauper. Some of you have just become LUNATIC since 2015 election – many of your relatives public fund looting routes have been blocked, some will go to jail as their trial is hotting up you then become internet warrior chatting nonsense – abusing our PRESIDENT, how dare you? Senseless fool!

Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya

You are a multiple basta*d.

Curtx Maccido

All your family members are moronic bastards….may you live be shortened and screwed! motherfucker! Useless PUNK!

Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya

Mumu, you don’t even know the difference between “life” and “live”? Bloody imbecile!

Akano

When you have to fake your name as Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya to make a comment, then you are not competent to pass comment. You are definitely not a Yoruba man because no matter the mess from an elderly man like Buhari, not even because he is the President but because of his age, a Yoruba man will not insult him. Please be yourself. I am not his fan but I can not insult him.

Asuk

Obla over rated himself and spoke often beyond his brief. His arrogance was uncommon, his choice of words was offensive and irritating. I pray he humbles himself with this development.

olabisisho

You are absolutely right. I, once, commented about this man inter-alia: “This is the type of person that the President should be wary of. He conveniently or deliberately muddled things up and cared less about objectivity in order to curry favor with the President. He wants us to believe that law is esoteric and could not be understood by nonlawyers. As a result, he was telling us, unabashedly, that law could be divorced from sociology. Can we ask this Lawyer if he could practice his law in isolation of the society?”